When buying a youngster, what do you look for in the horse?

lialls

lialls

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 February 2008
Messages
1,438
Location
The Hills
Visit site
If you were buying a youngster for yourself to keep as a general allrounder when the time comes, what would you keep in mind when going to view it? Temperment, Conformation and....?
 
With mine, I knew as soon as I saw her. She was in a stable with just a chain across the door, quiet as anything. Went in, walked round her and she just looked round at me as if saying hello. Temperament all the way!! (plus she's got the prettiest face haha) But seriously, she was bought as my horse of a lifetime so I have to be able to live with her for a long time...and enjoy it!
 
A sensible brain. That's the first thing I look for.

We knew Lacey was for us as when we tried her we took her for a canter up a hill, she pulled up v.easily and then plodded back down on a long rein. Not much more you can ask of a four year old really.
The fact that she makes a lovely shape over fences helps ;)
 
when i looked at my youngster as a 2yr 6month the most important thing i was looking for was temperment. i wanted a youngster that respected people that didn;t barge etc. rather than being automatically spooky i wanted inquisitive etc. i took him for a walk in hand and he didn;t spook at anything including crane going up on telephone post and it was his first time out by himself! to this day he hads;t really spooked at anything!
second most important thing for me was paces cos i want to do dressage. I would look for a nice active hind leg and expressive strides that drift over the ground. also a real ground covering walk with lots of over track.
3rd is conformation. its hard to tell with a youngster but i wanted good feet (we've had horses with bad feet in past and complete pain) not too sloping pasterns, well set on neck. hind legs not too underneath etc.
 
1. a kind eye
2. a leg in each corner
3. kind temprament, willing to learn etc
4. i like them looking like babies e.g immature and not filled out. as i can imagine what theyl look like in a few years and also makes the whole outcome of the project even better.
5. a good foot and no splints etc
 
I firstly, will not buy something that doesnt catch my eye - as I will have to spend the next 'X' years looking at them in a field! I tend to look for 2 / 3 yr olds. A kind eye is nice. I also like to see something that moves well, has a nice loose jump and has reasonable conformation.
 
Sane, with great paces usually... it's nice if they are gorgeous too... actually I only ever buy pretty horses so I guess I look for that too... But SANE is the most important attribute to me, trainability is useful... Actually if I was buying a youngster I would insist that it was sane, trainable, good looking with good paces and no lumps or bumps.
 
Our little one "chose" us. Went to look at his half brother who was nice but did not really touch us in the way we wanted. On the way back across the field his little half brother literally came over and got hold of me. When I ignored him he started on my daughter! He was "our sort" and was gentle kind and curious. I asked the vet to assess his conformation as we were inexperienced with youngsters and he was only 8 months. She said he should make a good all rounder so we bought him! A year on he is delightful, calm and very very sweet and trainable. Even better my friend bought his brother!
They were relatively cheap and have both been bought to be general riding horses so nothing special but special to us:)
 
A good tempermant and good comformation, I dont mind lumps or bumps, splints dont really worry me, although I wouldn't buy a horse with a curb, I look for a decent back end as that will be the engine in time to come.
 
I didnt go out looking for Lola, she kind of found me, but if i was purposely going out to but a 2/3 year old i'd also be looking for something with a attitude first and foremost, something with a sensible, trainable temprement. I like them to be quite inquisitive and happy around people, with a bit of character, but not bargy or having no respect for their handlers. Free and expressive paces would also come quite high on my list, a good walk is a must, a good trot and canter would be a bonus but these can be improved upon later and if the horse is a bit older, maybe 3/4 i'd like to see them making a nice shape over a jump (loose jump that is, not under saddle at that point! but wouldnt want them to have been over-jumped at any point either, or for the jump to be particularly high) Good feet would be another thing, as would conformation but as someone already said that can be difficult to tell in younger ones.
See, not looking for much am i :p Thankfully, somehow Lola turned out to have pretty much all of the above. She was just one of those horses that stood out a mile when i first saw her despite the state she was in :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top